The Main West Line was progressively extended out to the north-west, reaching Orange in 1877, Dubbo in 1881 and finally Bourke in 1885.
Shortly after a branch line, (destined to become the Orange - Broken Hill Line) branching off at Orange, was constructed out to Molong, Parkes and (then splitting) on to Bogan Gate (and Forbes), these sections becoming operational in 1885, 1893, 1895 respectively. After a further extension from Bogan Gate to Condobolin in 1898, little change (other than the addition of a branch line out to Tullamore with an extension to Tottenham in 1908 and 1916 respectively) occurred until the discovery of large ore bodies at Broken Hill saw the line extended to this location in the 1920’s, giving us the formation of the Orange to Broken Hill line as we see it today.
Finally it was the conversion of the South Australian Railway’s Port Perie to Cockburn track from narrow to standard gauge and the elimination of Silverton’s Cockburn to Broken Hill narrow gauge operation that turned Orange - Broken Hill - Port Pirie railway into a major inter/intrastate operation. Had lines been named today, this would probably be the Main West Line.
This presentation starts at Tottenham Wheat Silos as we view a 1520 tonne grain train and ride in the locomotive cab as we work our way along this Class 5 (lightweight/poor quality) road to the Orange - Broken Hill main line at Bogan Gate. We then work our way east through Goobang, Parkes, Manildra, Molong and on to Orange. Locomotives seen include CLF/P, G, GM, MM(49), NR, T, 22 (422), 44, 442, 48, 80, 81, 600, 830 and 930 class diesel-electrics belonging to ARG, Freight Australia, Manildra Group, Pacific National and Silverton. We also view the CountryLink once-weekly Broken Hill Explorer passenger train and pay a brief visit to the Silverton operated Parkes Locomotive Facility.
Approximate running time: 78 minutes.